Favorite Reads

Since it's National Book Lover's Day, we decided to share some of our employee's favorite reads. Here goes:

"A Shadow in the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz ZafonWho Picked It: Kate Endress, CEOWhy I Love It: This is a book with all the ingredients: great storyline, interesting/likable characters, intrigue, love and a few twists. It's well-written without being wordy and is is just plain fun to read!In a Nutshell: Set in post Spanish Civil war (Barcelona, 1945), an antiquarian book dealer's son, Daniel, who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets--an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love."Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. DickWho Picked It: Sergey Surkov, CTO

Why I Love It: I enjoy thinking about how far science has come in explaining how the human 'machine' works (and fails).In a Nutshell: A final, apocalyptic, world war has killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending the majority of mankind off-planet. Those who remain, venerate all remaining examples of life, and owning an animal of your own is both a symbol of status and a necessity. For those who can't afford an authentic animal, companies build incredibly realistic simulacrae: horses, birds, cats, sheep . . . even humans.

"Fountain Head" by Ayn RandWho Picked It: Ryan Osilla, VP, ProductWhy I Love It: This book is a well-written account of passion; specifically it introduced to me characters that would never compromise their goals despite enormous pressures to do so. A simple story about courage for convictions that forever impacted how I look at life and the challenges set forth.In a Nutshell: This instant classic is the story of an intransigent young architect, his violent battle against conventional standards, and his explosive love affair with a beautiful woman who struggles to defeat him.

This book highlights the interdependent strength between an individual and her family.

In a Nutshell:

This a memoir of the extraordinary, Jeanette Walls. It's amazing story of the author's triumph over a challenging and often unconventional childhood and the unconditional love in a family despite its flaws.

"Bitter Is The New Black" by Jen LancasterWho Picked It: Andrea Boyle, Customer Service Manager

Why I Love It: The author's sense of humor is wild and witty. Because it's based on a true story, it always makes it feel more down to earth.In a Nutshell: This is the story of how a haughty former sorority girl went from having a household income of almost a quarter-million dollars to being evicted from a ghetto apartment.